US9914120B2 - Blood cell counting device and method - Google Patents

Blood cell counting device and method Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US9914120B2
US9914120B2 US14/384,200 US201314384200A US9914120B2 US 9914120 B2 US9914120 B2 US 9914120B2 US 201314384200 A US201314384200 A US 201314384200A US 9914120 B2 US9914120 B2 US 9914120B2
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
chamber
sample
blood
connection conduit
downstream
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Fee Related, expires
Application number
US14/384,200
Other languages
English (en)
Other versions
US20150024426A1 (en
Inventor
João Manuel De Oliveira Garcia Da Fonseca
Ricardo Cabeça
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Biosurfit SA
Original Assignee
Biosurfit SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Biosurfit SA filed Critical Biosurfit SA
Assigned to BIOSURFIT S.A. reassignment BIOSURFIT S.A. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: CABECA, RICARDO, DE OLIVEIRA GARCIA DA FONSECA, JOAO MANUEL
Publication of US20150024426A1 publication Critical patent/US20150024426A1/en
Assigned to THE EUROPEAN INVESTMENT BANK reassignment THE EUROPEAN INVESTMENT BANK SECURITY INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: BIOSURFIT S.A.
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US9914120B2 publication Critical patent/US9914120B2/en
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current
Adjusted expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Images

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L3/00—Containers or dishes for laboratory use, e.g. laboratory glassware; Droppers
    • B01L3/50—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes
    • B01L3/502—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures
    • B01L3/5027—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip
    • B01L3/502753—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip characterised by bulk separation arrangements on lab-on-a-chip devices, e.g. for filtration or centrifugation
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N15/00—Investigating characteristics of particles; Investigating permeability, pore-volume or surface-area of porous materials
    • G01N15/04—Investigating sedimentation of particle suspensions
    • G01N15/042—Investigating sedimentation of particle suspensions by centrifuging and investigating centrifugates
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N15/00—Investigating characteristics of particles; Investigating permeability, pore-volume or surface-area of porous materials
    • G01N15/04—Investigating sedimentation of particle suspensions
    • G01N15/05—Investigating sedimentation of particle suspensions in blood
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N15/00—Investigating characteristics of particles; Investigating permeability, pore-volume or surface-area of porous materials
    • G01N15/10—Investigating individual particles
    • G01N15/14—Optical investigation techniques, e.g. flow cytometry
    • G01N15/1429—Signal processing
    • G01N15/1433—Signal processing using image recognition
    • G01N15/1463—
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N15/00—Investigating characteristics of particles; Investigating permeability, pore-volume or surface-area of porous materials
    • G01N15/10—Investigating individual particles
    • G01N15/14—Optical investigation techniques, e.g. flow cytometry
    • G01N15/1484—Optical investigation techniques, e.g. flow cytometry microstructural devices
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N21/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light
    • G01N21/01—Arrangements or apparatus for facilitating the optical investigation
    • G01N21/03—Cuvette constructions
    • G01N21/07—Centrifugal type cuvettes
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N33/00—Investigating or analysing materials by specific methods not covered by groups G01N1/00 - G01N31/00
    • G01N33/48—Biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Haemocytometers
    • G01N33/483—Physical analysis of biological material
    • G01N33/487—Physical analysis of biological material of liquid biological material
    • G01N33/49—Blood
    • G01N33/491—Blood by separating the blood components
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L2200/00—Solutions for specific problems relating to chemical or physical laboratory apparatus
    • B01L2200/06—Fluid handling related problems
    • B01L2200/0605—Metering of fluids
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L2200/00—Solutions for specific problems relating to chemical or physical laboratory apparatus
    • B01L2200/10—Integrating sample preparation and analysis in single entity, e.g. lab-on-a-chip concept
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L2200/00—Solutions for specific problems relating to chemical or physical laboratory apparatus
    • B01L2200/16—Reagents, handling or storing thereof
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L2300/00—Additional constructional details
    • B01L2300/06—Auxiliary integrated devices, integrated components
    • B01L2300/0627—Sensor or part of a sensor is integrated
    • B01L2300/0654—Lenses; Optical fibres
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L2300/00—Additional constructional details
    • B01L2300/08—Geometry, shape and general structure
    • B01L2300/0803—Disc shape
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L2300/00—Additional constructional details
    • B01L2300/08—Geometry, shape and general structure
    • B01L2300/0861—Configuration of multiple channels and/or chambers in a single devices
    • B01L2300/0864—Configuration of multiple channels and/or chambers in a single devices comprising only one inlet and multiple receiving wells, e.g. for separation, splitting
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L2300/00—Additional constructional details
    • B01L2300/08—Geometry, shape and general structure
    • B01L2300/0861—Configuration of multiple channels and/or chambers in a single devices
    • B01L2300/0867—Multiple inlets and one sample wells, e.g. mixing, dilution
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L2300/00—Additional constructional details
    • B01L2300/08—Geometry, shape and general structure
    • B01L2300/0861—Configuration of multiple channels and/or chambers in a single devices
    • B01L2300/0883—Serpentine channels
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L2400/00—Moving or stopping fluids
    • B01L2400/04—Moving fluids with specific forces or mechanical means
    • B01L2400/0403—Moving fluids with specific forces or mechanical means specific forces
    • B01L2400/0406—Moving fluids with specific forces or mechanical means specific forces capillary forces
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L2400/00—Moving or stopping fluids
    • B01L2400/04—Moving fluids with specific forces or mechanical means
    • B01L2400/0403—Moving fluids with specific forces or mechanical means specific forces
    • B01L2400/0409—Moving fluids with specific forces or mechanical means specific forces centrifugal forces
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L2400/00—Moving or stopping fluids
    • B01L2400/06—Valves, specific forms thereof
    • B01L2400/0688—Valves, specific forms thereof surface tension valves, capillary stop, capillary break
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N15/00—Investigating characteristics of particles; Investigating permeability, pore-volume or surface-area of porous materials
    • G01N15/04—Investigating sedimentation of particle suspensions
    • G01N15/042—Investigating sedimentation of particle suspensions by centrifuging and investigating centrifugates
    • G01N2015/045—Investigating sedimentation of particle suspensions by centrifuging and investigating centrifugates by optical analysis
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N15/00—Investigating characteristics of particles; Investigating permeability, pore-volume or surface-area of porous materials
    • G01N15/04—Investigating sedimentation of particle suspensions
    • G01N15/05—Investigating sedimentation of particle suspensions in blood
    • G01N2015/055—Investigating sedimentation of particle suspensions in blood for hematocrite determination

Definitions

  • the present disclosure relates to a device and method for use in testing a liquid sample, in particular although not exclusively performing blood cell counts on leukocytes and determining haematocrit fractions in a blood sample. More particularly, the device and method work with re-suspension of reagents, for example for lysis and staining, while blood flows into one or more detection chambers of the device.
  • a device for use in imaging a sample as set out in independent claim 1 in a first aspect, there is provided a device for use in imaging a sample as set out in independent claim 1 .
  • the device comprises an inlet for accepting a sample into the device, a connection conduit and a detection chamber for optical detection of the sample.
  • the connection conduit connects the inlet to the detection chamber and contains one or more dry reagents for reaction with the sample as the sample passes through the connection conduit.
  • the conduit coated with the one or more reagents In some embodiments, the conduit coated with the one or more reagents.
  • the sample may be a blood sample, and preferably the one or more dry reagents include a haemolysing agent for selective lysis of erythrocytes in the blood sample and a staining agent for selectively staining leukocytes in the blood sample. This allows for a tailored approach to counting populations of eutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils and basophils.
  • connection conduit may comprise a main conduit portion and one or more protrusions extending outwardly from and along the main conduit portion.
  • the dry reagents in this embodiment are stored in the one or more protrusions and respective junction regions between the one or more protrusions and the main conduit portion provide a reaction region in which gradual resuspension of the dry reagents can occur.
  • the protrusions may further comprise a main portion and a neck portion in the region of the junction, the neck portion having a smaller cross-sectional area along the main conduit portion than the main portion.
  • connection conduit is of a meandering configuration.
  • the cartridge can therefore be adapted into any desired shape to account for space requirements and constraints within the system.
  • the device further comprises a stabilizer agent specific for leukocytes of the family of aldehyde-based fixatives, picric acid-based fixatives and polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene block copolymers stored in dry form in the connection conduit.
  • the connection conduit further comprises a surfactant in dry form.
  • the haemolysing agent may be a saponin reagent.
  • the staining agent may belong to the family of H&E stains, Romanowsky stains, methacromatic stains or any combination thereof.
  • the detection chamber may be confined between two parallel planar surfaces with the distance of no greater than 0.03 mm between the planar surfaces.
  • the connection conduit has a width of less than 2 mm, a length of above 10 mm and a depth between 0.02 mm and 1 mm.
  • the inlet, the connection conduit and detection chamber are dimensioned such that the blood sample flows from the inlet through the connection conduit and detection chamber by capillary driven flow.
  • At least one dimension of the connection conduit may be less than the smallest dimension of the inlet and at least one dimension of the detection chamber may be less than the smallest dimension of the connection conduit.
  • the device may further comprise a metering chamber arranged to hold a predefined volume of the sample, wherein the metering chamber is in fluidic connection with the inlet and the connection conduit.
  • the device also comprises a split feature arranged between the metering chamber and the connection conduit to split the sample between the metering chamber and the connection conduit, and a downstream chamber in fluidic connection with the metering chamber and arranged to receive the predefined volume of the sample.
  • Flow into the downstream chamber may be driven by centrifugal force due to rotation of the device about an axis of rotation, in some embodiments.
  • a vent is provided on either side of a liquid inlet into the downstream chamber.
  • the device further comprises an overflow chamber in fluidic connection with the downstream chamber and further comprising a siphon in fluidic connection with the downstream chamber.
  • the inlet of the siphon is arranged radially inwards from a portion of the downstream chamber such that when the device is subjected to a centrifugal force once the siphon is primed, a predetermined volume of the sample is siphoned from the sample in the downstream chamber.
  • the device may further comprises an air channel network, wherein the air channel network comprises an air vent opening and an air channel network to connect one or more of the chambers of the device to the exterior of the device.
  • This air channel network may be connected to a waste chamber which receives the overflow from the detection chamber for example due to a centrifugal force.
  • the air channel network may be open to atmosphere outside the device to facilitate sample introduction and may be sealable to prevent sample spillage during rotation of the device. Once sealed, the air channel network may provide a closed vent circuit allowing pressure equalisation between chambers and other liquid handling structures of the device.
  • dry anticoagulant may be stored in the metering chamber to prevent the blood from clotting.
  • the metering chamber may further comprise a surface tension barrier arranged to stop capillary driven flow between the metering chamber and the downstream chamber.
  • the surface tension barrier is preferably arranged to enable liquid flow past the barrier when the device is rotating at more than a predetermined angular velocity relative to the axis of revolution and to prevent flow otherwise.
  • the volume of the downstream chamber is smaller than the volume of the said metering chamber so that some of the same overflow into an overflow chamber. This enables accurate metering.
  • the device further comprises a waste chamber.
  • the waste chamber is in fluidic connection with the detection chamber and is arranged radially inward from the detection chamber to receive centrifugally driven overflow from the detection chamber.
  • the waste chamber the fore prevents clogging of the vent circuit, as it allows excess liquid from the sample in the detection chamber to escape in a controlled manner, therefore acting as an extension or expansion vessel.
  • the vent chamber may be provided in series with the vent network, or connected parallel to it.
  • a surface-tension barrier further reduces the risk of uncontrolled liquid spillage into the vent circuit in the former case.
  • the device may be provided as a cartridge, for example a disc-shaped cartridge, preferably having a feature for engaging a drive mechanism.
  • a system for imaging comprising the above device as set out in independent claim 17 .
  • the system further comprises imaging means for acquiring at least one image of the sample in the detection chamber.
  • the system may further comprise a drive for rotating the device about an axis of rotation.
  • the features in the device are preferably arranged about the axis of rotation such that when the drive for rotation is in use, the liquid is driven through the device by centrifugal force.
  • the system may further comprise an external pump to provide pressure driven flow of the sample from the inlet through the connection conduit and the detection chamber.
  • the system may further comprise a processor configured to capture at least one image of the sample in the detection chamber.
  • the at least one image taken by the processor will show the lysed and stained blood.
  • the processor may further be configured to determine the haematocrit fraction in the downstream chamber and/or in the overflow chamber. By determining the fraction in both the downstream and overflow chamber, the system may ensure that the results are independent of flow into the overflow chamber.
  • the drive for rotating the device about an axis provides a centrifugal force which causes a two-phase separation of the blood sample in the downstream and overflow chambers into sedimented erythrocytes and blood plasma supernatant.
  • the distance relative to the axis of revolution of the separation of the sedimenting erythrocytes and blood plasma within both the downstream and overflow chambers may be measured by the means of optical image acquisition as a function of time.
  • the length of each of the blood plasma and erythrocyte enriched phases may also be measured in the radial direction relative to the axis of revolution as a function of time.
  • the method comprises the steps of inserting a sample into a first chamber or inlet of a cartridge and causing the sample to flow by capillary action from the first chamber through a connection conduit into a detection chamber. While the sample flows through the connection conduit one or more dry reagents are re-suspended.
  • the method also comprises capturing at least one image of the sample in the detection chamber. By providing for gradual resuspension, the method allows for one or a series of independent chemical reactions to process the sample as it flows through the cartridge.
  • the one or more dry reagents may include a haemolysing agent for selective lysis of erythrocytes in the blood sample and a staining agent for selective stain of leukocytes in the blood sample. This allows for a tailored approach to counting subpopulations of eutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils and basophils.
  • Some embodiments include performing image cell segmentation and classification of leukocytes by comparison of obtained images of the lysed and stained blood in the detection chamber with pre-defined image properties thresholds.
  • the method may further comprise the step of determining the haematocrit fraction by optical imaging measurement of the interface between packed red cells and blood plasma in a downstream chamber and, preferably, any overflow chamber connected to the downstream chamber. This improves the reliability of the blood count obtained by the method.
  • the step of filling a blood metering chamber with blood is done by capillary action.
  • the first chamber and the blood metering chamber may be filled from a common inlet.
  • the method may also further comprise the step of rotating the sensing cartridge such that the blood comprised in the metering chamber is moved by centrifugal force from the said blood metering chamber into a downstream chamber.
  • the method may further comprise extracting from the downstream chamber a predefined volume of blood plasma for further analytical purposes.
  • This method therefore allows the blood sample to be further analysed in an integrated manner.
  • FIG. 1A illustrates a device for measuring differential leukocyte counts in a detection region
  • FIG. 1B illustrates a method for differential leukocyte counts in a detection region
  • FIG. 2A illustrates a device for measuring differential leukocyte counts in a detection region and haematocrit determination and blood plasma extraction for further downstream processing.
  • FIGS. 2B to 2I illustrate the various phases of measuring differential leukocyte counts using the device of FIG. 2A .
  • FIG. 3 is an image of lysed and stained blood in the detection region ( 40 ), according to the device and methods depicted in FIG. 1 and/or FIG. 2 , wherein each type of leukocyte presents a distinctive optical imaging signature.
  • FIG. 4 is an image of a downstream chamber with packed red blood cells and blood plasma, according to the device and methods depicted in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2 .
  • miniaturized assemblies for blood sample handling and processing which provide integrated haematology tests within the framework of lab-on-a-chip and point-of-care technology.
  • a microfluidic embodiment wherein metering of a blood sample volume, measurements of haematocrit and erythrocyte sedimentation velocity, absolute and differential count of leukocyte sub-populations and blood plasma extraction and aliquoting are combined in the same device.
  • the assembly is such that extracted cell free plasma can be used downstream for immunoassay testing.
  • Also described herein is a device which allows for a series of independent chemical reactions to process a blood sample; preferably including erythrocyte lysis and leukocyte differential staining.
  • a five-part differential classification of leukocytes may then be tailored for counting subpopulations of neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils and basophils. It will be appreciated that further counting of blood platelets may also be performed.
  • FIG. 1A illustrates a microfluidic device ( 10 ) which comprises the following main fluidic structure: a sample inlet ( 21 ), a connection conduit ( 20 ) and a detection chamber ( 30 ).
  • the loaded blood sample flows from the sample inlet ( 21 ) through the connection conduit ( 20 ) by means of capillary or pressure driven flow.
  • the shape and length of the connection conduit ( 20 ) may be arranged in such a manner that enables space saving within the device, using a meandering configuration.
  • connection conduit ( 20 ) is provided within a single plane of the device ( 10 ) (one example is a serpentine shape as depicted in FIG. 1A ). It will be appreciated that although a planar serpentine shape is depicted in FIG. 1A , any shape suitable for providing a substantially planar trajectory of the blood flow within the device could be provided. It should be noted that sharp angles within the projected trajectory should be avoided to reduce impediments to sample flow and to prevent trapping of air bubbles inside the connection conduit ( 20 ) whilst the chamber is filing with the blood sample. This is particular preferably where the blood flow is capillary driven.
  • the blood sample exits the connection conduit ( 20 ) through a defined outlet ( 22 ) as illustrated in FIG. 1A .
  • the blood sample then proceeds by filling the detection chamber ( 30 ); wherein preferably, the detection chamber ( 30 ) comprises a vent ( 31 ) for air escape.
  • the detection chamber ( 30 ) comprises two planar and transparent surfaces suitable for optical imaging. It will be appreciated that although the depicted detection chamber ( 31 ) in both FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises two planar, transparent surfaces, alternative arrangements which allow for optical imaging may be provided.
  • the height of the detection chamber ( 30 ) may be set to be no greater than 30 ⁇ m so that a single layer of blood cells is accommodated within it to facilitate cell counting. However, the height of the detection chamber ( 30 ) is not restricted to this height.
  • the device ( 10 ) may result from two halves containing microfluidic structures. These may be assembled together by any suitable means, for example using a bonding technique.
  • the connection conduit ( 20 ) Prior to assembly, the connection conduit ( 20 ) may be adapted to store dry reagents at particular positions therein. The dry reagents will preferably be prepared outside of the device ( 10 ) in a volatile solution at a given concentration. The precise amounts and concentration of reagent will depend on the solubility of the reagent. Once the solution is prepared, a predefined volume of the solution will then be dispensed at a given position of the connection conduit ( 20 ).
  • the reagent will then be deposited within the wetted area ( 23 ) of the connection conduit ( 20 ) as illustrated in FIG. 1A . This procedure may be repeated as many times as necessary depending on the desired amount of reagent for dry storage.
  • the volume and surface tension of the loaded solutions is preferably chosen to allow for a proper filling and confinement within the connection conduit ( 20 ) so that a well-defined patch of dry reagents with a predefined length can be placed in a well defined position within the connection conduit ( 20 ).
  • the connection conduit ( 20 ) accommodates at least two types of dry reagents; for example a haemolytic agent and a staining agent.
  • the role of the haemolytic agent is to selectively lyse erythrocytes from the blood sample before the detection chamber ( 30 ) is completely filled. By avoiding having erythrocytes present in the detection chamber ( 30 ) when it is filled with the processed blood sample, misinterpretation caused by leukocytes counts and posterior classification is reduced.
  • a staining agent from the family of hematoxylin and cosin (H&E) stains, Romanowsky stains, methacromatic stains or any combination thereof can be used for differential staining of leukocytes. From combinations of colour information with morphological features like granularity, size, shape of the cell cytoplasm and nucleus, it is possible to obtain a portfolio of distinct signatures for each of the sub-populations under study.
  • H&E hematoxylin and cosin
  • the stabilizing agent may be of the family of aldehyde-based fixatives, picric acid-based fixatives and polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene block copolymers and may be included as a dry reagent in the connection conduit ( 20 ). Such stabilizers are used to preserve and impart robustness to the leukocyte membrane and overall cell structure.
  • a surfactant also be included as a dry reagent in the connection conduit ( 20 ) in some embodiments.
  • the surfactant may be used to decrease the surface tension between the blood sample and the inner walls of the connection conduit ( 20 ).
  • Other properties of surfactants such as its use as a dispersant, detergent and emulsifier may also be useful to improve the reaction between the blood sample and the dry reagents.
  • the blood volume ( 25 ) encounters a series of patches of dry reagents ( 26 , 27 , 28 ).
  • a series of patches of dry reagents 26 , 27 , 28 .
  • any number (one or more) patches may be provided within the connection conduit ( 20 ).
  • the blood sample flows over the one or more patches, it will wash and dissolve the reagent(s) which will gradually diffuse through the blood volume and prompt a chemical reaction.
  • the dynamics of such reactions depends mainly on the blood flow rate and the length of the patch of dry reagent.
  • the content of dry reagent stored in the connection conduit ( 20 ) and how easily it dissolves on blood will also have an effect on the dynamics.
  • the concentration of a dissolved dry reagent along the blood volume in the direction opposite to the flow is expected to decrease.
  • the concentration of the dissolved dry reagent is expected to homogenize faster.
  • the volume of the detection chamber ( 30 ) may preferably be designed to match a predefined fraction of the volume comprised by the connection conduit ( 20 ) to ensure that within said fraction the processed blood exhibits characteristics which are as homogeneous as possible.
  • connection conduit ( 20 ) volumetry can be adjusted to suit the particular application.
  • An advantage of separating the at least one reaction site ( 26 , 27 , 28 ) from the detection chamber ( 30 ) where optical based detection of the processed sample occurs is that the area and height of the detection chamber ( 30 ) can be independently adjusted for proper detection of the stained leukocytes and further traces of the dry reagents involved in the serial reactions can be excluded from the field of view; for example avoided precipitates of the stain under use in the field of view.
  • the height of the detection chamber ( 30 ) may be set so as to contain one layer of stained leukocytes and an area to accommodate sufficient processed blood volume to provide a significant statistical count of each leukocyte sub-population.
  • a device for simultaneous measurement of partial or total leukocyte counts and haematocrit estimation and blood plasma extraction for further analytical purposes is disclosed.
  • the following microfluidic device comprises the main fluidic structures as represented in FIG. 2A : sample inlet chamber ( 21 ); connection conduit ( 20 ); detection chamber ( 30 ); waste chamber ( 50 ); metering chamber ( 60 ); downstream chamber ( 70 ); overflow chamber ( 80 ); network of air channels ( 90 ); flow barriers valves ( 61 , 62 , 63 ) and siphon ( 71 ).
  • the network of air channels ( 90 ) assists with air exchange between all fluidic structures being filled with or emptied of the loaded blood sample, to provide a substantially even air pressure distribution in the device ( 10 ).
  • the design of the microfluidic structures and their operation prevent sample ingress into the air channel network ( 90 ); otherwise under and overpressure regions may arise in the device ( 10 ) thereby compromising its fluidic functions.
  • the device ( 10 ) can be operated in two fluidic regimes: capillary driven flow and centrifugal pressure driven flow. Accordingly, the device may be designed to be rotatable about an axis of revolution ( 100 ) as illustrated in FIG. 2A to drive fluid flow by centrifugation.
  • All the fluidic structures described herein may be designed in polar coordinates relative to said axis of revolution ( 100 ). Consequently, all structures may be characterized by their radial and angular dimensions and positioning in respect of the axis of revolution ( 100 ). Upon rotation of the device ( 10 ) around the axis of revolution ( 100 ), a liquid sample in the device ( 10 ) experiences a centrifugal field.
  • Different volumes of a loaded blood sample may be metered and fractionated in independent aliquots for further independent processing.
  • said blood aliquots have the same constitution and are representative of the loaded blood sample. Due to its complex biological composition, when a blood sample is exposed to a centrifugal field its components will redistribute themselves within the blood volume based on their densities, thereby jeopardizing the original homogeneity of the sample.
  • the device ( 10 ) described herein and illustrated in FIG. 2 seeks to overcome or mitigate this issue.
  • the device ( 10 ) before loading the blood sample, the device ( 10 ) is exposed to atmospheric pressure through the open air vent ( 91 ) which is included in the integrated air channels network ( 90 ) which connects the fluidic modules listed above.
  • the inlet chamber or sample inlet ( 21 ) comprises an opening ( 24 ) connecting the inlet chamber ( 21 ) to the exterior of the device ( 10 ). Once the sample is loaded into said opening ( 24 ), it moves into the inlet chamber ( 21 ) solely by capillary action and starts filling the chamber ( 21 ) towards the metering chamber ( 60 ) and connection conduit ( 20 ) simultaneously as is illustrated in the hatched section ( 2 ) in FIG. 2B .
  • the metering chamber ( 60 ) substantially fills completely up to a predefined volume of the loaded blood sample.
  • the metering chamber ( 60 ) is preferably shaped so to avoid entrapment of air bubbles while filling by capillary action as is illustrated in the hatched section ( 4 ) in FIG. 2C .
  • One or more flow barriers valves are placed in the metering chamber ( 60 ) to connect the metering chamber ( 60 ) to the surrounding fluidic modules to ensure that the blood sample does not flow through the barrier valves by capillarity. As illustrated in FIG.
  • the flow barrier valves ( 61 , 62 ) are connected to the air channel network ( 90 ) to prevent clogging and ensure air release from the metering chamber ( 60 ) to the outside of the device ( 10 ).
  • Providing an air release during capillary filling from one or more points of the metering chamber ( 60 ) enables complete filling of the chamber ( 60 ).
  • dried anticoagulant are additionally added to the metering chamber ( 60 ) to avoid undesirable clotting of the metered blood sample, in some embodiments.
  • connection conduit 20 Once the blood sample reaches the connection conduit 20 it fills it by capillarity as illustrated in the hatched section ( 6 ) of FIG. 2C .
  • the chemical reactions operating on the blood whilst the blood sample is flowing over the dry chemical patches ( 26 , 27 , 28 ) comprised in the connection conduit ( 20 ) are as described above with respect to FIG. 1 .
  • the blood sample Once the blood sample enters the detection chamber ( 30 ) by capillary, it has preferably already reacted with the erythrocyte lytic agent and differential stains for leukocytes.
  • the detection chamber ( 30 ) may include at least one connection to the integrated air channel network ( 90 ). Although two connections ( 92 , 93 ) are illustrated in FIG. 2C , it will be appreciated that any number of connections may be provided.
  • each connecting air channel may include a flow barrier valve to prevent the processed blood volume from entering the air channels by capillarity.
  • the air channels connect the detection chamber ( 30 ) to a waste chamber ( 50 ) located radially inwards on the device ( 10 ) relative to the axis of revolution ( 100 ). The role of the waste chamber ( 50 ) will be described in more detail below.
  • the device ( 10 ) may be placed in an instrument comprising a microscopy assembly and a transport mechanism.
  • the microscopy assembly ( 10 ) may include a lens, a focusing mechanism and a digital camera.
  • the transport mechanism allows angular positioning of the device ( 10 ) to be controlled.
  • a positioning sensor may be used to assist the precise alignment of one of the extremities of the detection chamber ( 30 ) with the microscopy assembly which may then be followed by incremental angular displacements defining a series of positions within the detection chamber ( 30 ). At each position a focused picture of the processed blood sample may be taken with a given magnification.
  • a precise radial positioning mechanism can be coupled to the device ( 10 ) for radial scanning of the detection chamber ( 30 ).
  • the device ( 10 ) may also be immobilized or slowly rotating for discrete positioning purposes and all fluidic functions may be accomplished by capillary based handling of the blood sample without further interference/assistance.
  • the device ( 10 ) is preferably operated in centrifugal based flow. At this point the opening of the inlet chamber ( 21 ) and air vent escape ( 91 ) may be sealed and future blood sample and air exchanges occur exclusively inside the device ( 10 ). Once the device ( 10 ) starts rotating at a given angular velocity about the axis of rotation ( 100 ), the blood volume comprised in it experiences a centrifugal force pointing towards the outward radius forcing the blood sample to flow. The same instrument is used, in some embodiments, during the capillary flow, image acquisition and centrifugal flow phases.
  • the metering chamber ( 60 ) in some embodiments, includes a split feature ( 64 ) between the metering chamber ( 60 ) and the inlet chamber ( 21 ).
  • the split feature ( 64 ) may be characterized by a narrower passage between metering ( 60 ) and inlet chambers ( 21 ) and preferably has a cuspidal like shape with a rounded edge.
  • a flow barrier valve ( 62 ) is preferably provided which is connected to the air channel network ( 90 ) and may be aligned with the split feature ( 64 ) to prevent blockage and enable air ingestion which is needed for the blood sample split event as represented in FIG. 2F .
  • the continuum of blood previously filling the device ( 10 ) will consequently divide into two independent fractions: the volume contained in the metering chamber ( 60 ) and the volume comprised in the inlet ( 21 ), connection conduit ( 20 ) and detection chamber ( 30 ) as illustrated by hatched sections ( 14 ) and ( 16 ) of FIG. 2F , respectively.
  • the previous microfluidic architecture can be replicated in a series of n metering chambers ( 60 ) and n ⁇ 1 split points between them to obtain n aliquots with predefined volumes from an initial blood sample.
  • the metering chamber ( 60 ) comprises at least one flow barrier valve ( 63 ) as illustrated in FIG. 2F , which connects the metering chamber ( 60 ) to a downstream chamber ( 70 ) and is located radially outwards with respect to the revolution axis ( 100 ).
  • the flow barrier valve ( 63 ) brakes given that the centrifugal force exerted on the metered blood volume is enough to overcome the surface tension barrier the valve ( 63 ) poses towards blood flowing through it.
  • the braking events occurring at the split feature ( 64 ) embodied in the metering chamber ( 60 ) and the flow barrier valve ( 63 ) connecting the metering chamber ( 60 ) to the downstream chamber ( 70 ), is preferably synchronized for a correct fractionation of the blood volume enclosed in the metering chamber ( 60 ). Thereafter the metering chamber ( 60 ) is adapted to supply a substantially continuous stream of blood flowing from the flow barrier valve ( 63 ) into the downstream chamber ( 70 ) until it is substantially empty of blood, as is illustrated by grey out section ( 18 ) of FIG. 2F .
  • a stream of blood starts filling the outwardly radial positions of the downstream chamber ( 70 ) whilst the blood meniscus in said chamber ( 70 ) rises radially inwards until it reaches the connection ( 81 ) between the downstream ( 70 ) and overflow ( 80 ) chambers.
  • a blood stream occupies the full height of the downstream chamber ( 70 ) as the downstream chamber is filled and consequently defines two fluidically separate areas extending from each side of the stream: 1) part of the downstream chamber ( 70 ) on the side of the siphon ( 71 ) and 2) its remaining volume plus the overflow chamber ( 80 ). Each of those areas is preferably connected to the air channel network ( 90 ) by one or more connections. As illustrated in FIG.
  • two connections ( 92 , 93 ) may be provided for air release while filling of the downstream chamber ( 70 ). This advantageously prevents overpressure which can arise within said areas. Overpressure can exert a deflecting force on the blood stream thereby risking incorrect filling of the downstream chamber ( 70 ).
  • connection ( 81 ) between the downstream chamber ( 70 ) and the overflow chamber ( 80 ) is designed to transfer liquid in excess of a pre-defined volume enclosed in the downstream chamber ( 70 ) to the overflow chamber ( 80 ), which is preferably smaller than the metered blood volume, so that the overflow chamber ( 80 ) is partially filled with blood.
  • the presence of blood of this arrangement in the overflow chamber ( 80 ) may be used as a quality control to check the complete filling of the downstream chamber ( 70 ).
  • the metered blood sample is actuated by the centrifugal force as described above and consequently the erythrocytes contained in the sample will start to sediment.
  • the device ( 10 ) is in some embodiments kept rotating for further sedimentation towards the outwardly radial positions of those chambers ( 70 , 80 ).
  • Haematocrit calculation is, in some embodiments, done by combining the measurements of both downstream ( 70 ) and overflow ( 80 ) chambers.
  • the design of these chambers ( 70 , 80 ), the rotation velocity of the device ( 10 ) and the rotation time are likely to influence both sedimentation and haematocrit measurements. It is important to note that until filling of the downstream ( 70 ) and overflow chambers ( 80 ) is substantially completed, the two phase separation of the flowing blood sample due to sedimentation already occurs. This implies that when the blood sample reaches the overflow level of the downstream chamber ( 70 ), the blood volume that flows towards the overflow chamber ( 80 ) is likely to be partially depleted from erythrocytes.
  • haematocrit measurements on the downstream ( 70 ) and overflow ( 80 ) chambers reveal higher and lower haematocrit results, respectively. This is why haematocrit measurements on both chambers ( 70 , 80 ) is preferable as it is likely to lead to a more accurate result.
  • the haematocrit influences the erythrocyte sedimentation velocity measurements; the lower the haematocrit, the faster the sedimentation mechanism occurs.
  • the measured sedimentation velocity is preferably corrected to account for such bias.
  • the downstream chamber ( 70 ) may also include a siphon for cell free plasma ( 71 ) extraction once the erythrocyte sedimentation and haematocrit measurement are completed, as illustrated in FIG. 2I .
  • a siphon for cell free plasma ( 71 ) extraction once the erythrocyte sedimentation and haematocrit measurement are completed, as illustrated in FIG. 2I .
  • the siphon level is reached when the meniscus reaches the inlet level which is indicated by feature ( 81 ).
  • This transition between the downstream chamber ( 70 ) and the overflow the chamber ( 80 ) is defined by a precise radial distance relative to the axis of revolution ( 100 ).
  • the siphon crest ( 79 ) is located radially inwards relative to the equilibrium radius; and 2) the centrifugal force acting on the blood volume contained in the siphon ( 71 ) overcomes the capillary force exerted on said blood volume which has the opposite direction of the centrifugal force in the siphon branch ( 77 ) comprised between its inlet ( 78 ) and crest ( 79 ).
  • the device ( 10 ) stops rotating or rotates at a lower angular velocity such that the capillary force overcomes the centrifugal force, the blood volume progresses through the siphon ( 71 ) until priming is completed. It is preferable that the radial position of the blood volume inside the siphon ( 71 ) reaches a position in outer radius ( 79 a ) compared to the radius of the siphon inlet ( 78 ). At this point, the device ( 10 ) starts rotating and the cell free plasma comprised between the top of the downstream chamber ( 70 ) and the inlet ( 78 ) of the siphon ( 71 ) starts draining through the siphon ( 71 ).
  • the described preferable procedure ensures aliquoting of a precise volume of blood plasma given that said volume can be easily tuned by proper dimensioning of the downstream chamber ( 70 ) and location of the siphon inlet ( 78 ) in respect of the downstream chamber ( 70 ).
  • the siphon inlet ( 78 ) is preferably located above, or radially inwards, from the plasma-erythrocytes phase transition. Since such transition depends on the blood sample haematocrit, the siphon inlet ( 78 ) may be positioned for a sample with a haematocrit of up to 65% which is a value far above the maximum values found in practice.
  • the aliquoted plasma volume can be further processed and used for additional testing.
  • the meniscus defining the ends of blood volume preferably levels itself at the same radius to maintain the hydrostatic pressure independently of the shape and volume of the reservoirs filled in between, as illustrated by features ( 41 ) and ( 42 ) of FIG. 2F .
  • the fluidic structures are designed to ensure that the blood meniscus rises in the waste chamber ( 50 ) until it equilibrates with the meniscus on the other extreme of the blood fraction, which occurs below the split feature ( 64 ); i.e. on the outer radius relative to the axis of revolution ( 100 ).
  • the radial position of the equilibrium of both meniscuses depends on the volume of the channels and reservoirs comprising the said blood.
  • This equilibrium radius preferably occurs below the surface tension barrier ( 52 ) disposed in the waste chamber ( 50 ).
  • This barrier ( 52 ) ensures that once the microfluidic disc stops rotating, the blood in the waste reservoir ( 50 ) does not reach the air channels network ( 90 ) by capillary flow through channel ( 94 ), as illustrated in FIG. 2F .
  • the device ( 10 ) as illustrated in FIG. 2A is provided as a cartridge.
  • the cartridge in some embodiment resembles a CD/DVD configuration constituted by two transparent and planar circular halves brought together by an intermediate adhesive layer.
  • the halves are preferably engraved with the microfluidic structures and openings to the exterior described above, with the exception of the detection chamber ( 30 ) which is cut out from the adhesive layer. With precise alignment of the microfluidic structures, the three parts may be assembled and bonded to form a self-contained cartridge.
  • connection conduit ( 20 ) is 30 mm long, 0.6 mm wide and 0.2 mm deep.
  • This connection conduit ( 20 ) was tested for a series of 3 sequential reactions, comprising a first reaction site which was 10 mm long which comprised glutaraldehyde as a stabilizer agent, a 10 mm long reaction site with a mixture of surfactant and lytic agent (Surfynol and saponine, respectively) and a 10 mm long reaction site with a mixture of stains.
  • the mixture of stains included a mixture of eosin, methylene blue and basic orange 21 leading to differential colours for a 5-part classification of leukocytes: lymphocytes stain blue, monocytes stain blue/purple, neutrophils exhibit blue nucleus and pale yellow cytoplasm, eosinophils exhibit blue nucleus and dark yellow granules, basophils stain bright pink.
  • lymphocytes stain blue lymphocytes stain blue
  • monocytes stain blue/purple neutrophils exhibit blue nucleus and pale yellow cytoplasm
  • eosinophils exhibit blue nucleus and dark yellow granules
  • basophils stain bright pink It will be appreciated that other known reagents and combinations thereof may be used in the device. It will also be appreciated that the reagents may be arranged having different dimensions in the connection conduit ( 20 ).
  • connection conduit ( 20 ) defines a volume for the connection conduit ( 20 ) of 3.6 ⁇ L whereas the detection chamber ( 30 ) was designed to retain 1 ⁇ L of that volume.
  • the detection chamber ( 30 ) in this example has a height of 20 ⁇ m to accommodate one single layer of cells.
  • FIG. 3 represents an image obtained with several stained leukocytes from this example. It will be appreciated that the dimensions of the connection conduit and detection chamber may be adjusted.
  • the metering ( 6 ) and downstream ( 70 ) chambers were designed in this example to accommodate 5 uL and 4 uL, respectively.
  • a 1 uL cell free plasma was drained from the downstream chamber ( 70 ) through the siphon ( 71 ).
  • Embodiments of the device described herein are capable of determining both partial leukocyte counts and a haematocrit fraction of blood.
  • the embodiments described above are adapted for the processing of a blood sample, at least some of the above embodiments are suitable for processing any liquid sample, for example any liquid to be reacted with one or more reagents prior to imaging. Indeed, the described re-suspension and other liquid handling mechanisms and structures are equally applicable to applications that do not involve imaging, for example, where the use of reagents is required on its own or in connection with other detection mechanisms.
  • a flow barrier valve refers to a connection conduit incorporating a surface tension barrier to provide an impediment to capillary driven flow.
  • the surface tension barrier can be provided by any suitable arrangement, for example a suddent expansion or other geometrical design, or a surface treatment of all or a portion of the conduit.

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
  • Pathology (AREA)
  • Immunology (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Biochemistry (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Dispersion Chemistry (AREA)
  • Hematology (AREA)
  • Biomedical Technology (AREA)
  • Molecular Biology (AREA)
  • Medicinal Chemistry (AREA)
  • Biophysics (AREA)
  • Food Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Ecology (AREA)
  • Urology & Nephrology (AREA)
  • Clinical Laboratory Science (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Investigating Or Analysing Biological Materials (AREA)
  • Computer Vision & Pattern Recognition (AREA)
  • Automatic Analysis And Handling Materials Therefor (AREA)
  • Investigating Or Analysing Materials By Optical Means (AREA)
US14/384,200 2012-03-12 2013-03-12 Blood cell counting device and method Expired - Fee Related US9914120B2 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PT106203 2012-03-12
PT10620312 2012-03-12
PCT/EP2013/055020 WO2013135713A1 (en) 2012-03-12 2013-03-12 Liquid sample imaging device and method

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20150024426A1 US20150024426A1 (en) 2015-01-22
US9914120B2 true US9914120B2 (en) 2018-03-13

Family

ID=47844389

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US14/384,200 Expired - Fee Related US9914120B2 (en) 2012-03-12 2013-03-12 Blood cell counting device and method

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US9914120B2 (enExample)
EP (1) EP2825881B1 (enExample)
JP (1) JP6335802B2 (enExample)
WO (1) WO2013135713A1 (enExample)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20180291912A1 (en) * 2012-02-23 2018-10-11 Hahn-Schickard-Gesellschaft Fuer Angewandte Forschung E.V. Fluidics module, device and method for pumping a liquid
US20210387179A1 (en) * 2020-06-16 2021-12-16 Feng Chia University Centrifugal-driven microfluidic platform and method of use thereof

Families Citing this family (20)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB201014805D0 (en) 2010-09-07 2010-10-20 Multi Sense Technologies Ltd Microfluidics based assay device
WO2016050755A2 (en) 2014-09-29 2016-04-07 Biosurfit S.A. Cell counting
WO2016050753A1 (en) * 2014-09-29 2016-04-07 Biosurfit S.A. Microfluidic vent structure
EP3201625A1 (en) 2014-09-29 2017-08-09 Biosurfit, S.A. Positioning mechanism
US10519493B2 (en) 2015-06-22 2019-12-31 Fluxergy, Llc Apparatus and method for image analysis of a fluid sample undergoing a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
US10214772B2 (en) 2015-06-22 2019-02-26 Fluxergy, Llc Test card for assay and method of manufacturing same
US11371091B2 (en) 2015-06-22 2022-06-28 Fluxergy, Inc. Device for analyzing a fluid sample and use of test card with same
CN106056612B (zh) * 2016-06-03 2019-01-11 盈开生物科技（上海）有限公司 血液分层识别方法
GB201611442D0 (en) 2016-06-30 2016-08-17 Lumiradx Tech Ltd Fluid control
JP6799308B2 (ja) * 2016-09-30 2020-12-16 株式会社アイビー 液体試料搬送方法および試薬チップ
US20200238279A1 (en) * 2017-03-08 2020-07-30 Northwestern University Devices, systems, and methods for specimen preparation and analysis using capillary and centrifugal forces
US11287404B2 (en) * 2017-12-21 2022-03-29 International Business Machines Corporation Analysis apparatus with spectrometer
US11291997B2 (en) * 2018-08-02 2022-04-05 Colorado State University Research Foundation Rotary manifold for paper-based immunoassays
EP3840635A4 (en) * 2018-08-23 2022-05-18 Sanwa Biotech Ltd. PORTABLE DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND RELATED METHOD
JP7066043B2 (ja) 2018-09-11 2022-05-12 エフ．ホフマン－ラ ロシュ アーゲー 液体パックを備えたカートリッジ
EP3742174A4 (en) * 2019-04-04 2022-01-12 Biobank Inc. MULTIPLE SYSTEM FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY PERFORMING A BIOCHEMICAL TEST AND BLOOD ANALYSIS, AND MULTIPLE DISC USED FOR THIS PURPOSE
KR102259432B1 (ko) * 2019-04-04 2021-06-02 바이오뱅크 주식회사 생화학검사와 혈액검사를 동시에 수행하는 멀티시스템 및 이에 사용되는 멀티디스크
CN113959819B (zh) * 2020-11-13 2025-01-07 深圳安侣医学科技有限公司 一体化试剂盒
CN116026746A (zh) * 2021-10-27 2023-04-28 深圳市理邦精密仪器股份有限公司 白细胞的数量检测方法和血细胞分析仪
GB2616668A (en) * 2022-03-18 2023-09-20 Entia Ltd A method of obtaining an image of a biological sample in a cuvette

Citations (24)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20020076354A1 (en) 2000-12-01 2002-06-20 Cohen David Samuel Apparatus and methods for separating components of particulate suspension
US20030083685A1 (en) * 2001-06-12 2003-05-01 Freeman Dominique M. Sampling module device and method
US20030224395A1 (en) * 1999-08-02 2003-12-04 Jovanovich Stevan Bogdan Methods and apparatus for performing submicroliter reactions with nucleic acids or proteins
WO2003104771A1 (en) 2002-06-01 2003-12-18 Chempaq A/S Lysing reagent, cartridge and automatic electronic cell counter for simultaneous enumeration of different types of white blood cells
WO2006042555A2 (en) 2004-10-20 2006-04-27 Chempaq A/S Lysing reagent for simultaneous enumeration of different types of blood cells in a blood sample
WO2006070772A1 (en) 2004-12-28 2006-07-06 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Testing device and blood mixing and diluting method
WO2006084472A1 (en) 2005-02-10 2006-08-17 Chempaq A/S Dual sample cartridge and method for characterizing particle in liquid
US20070178521A1 (en) * 2004-03-16 2007-08-02 Yoshiki Sakaino Assay chip
US20080002178A1 (en) * 2006-06-30 2008-01-03 Ushiodenki Kabushiki Kaisha Microchip testing device
US20080212069A1 (en) * 2007-01-26 2008-09-04 Becton, Dickinson And Company Method, system, and compositions for cell counting and analysis
WO2009037361A1 (en) 2007-09-20 2009-03-26 Iline Microsystems, S.L. Microfluidic device and method for fluid clotting time determination
WO2009069656A1 (ja) 2007-11-26 2009-06-04 Fujimori Kogyo Co., Ltd. マイクロチップおよび血液観測装置
US20090185714A1 (en) 2008-01-18 2009-07-23 Hemocue Ab Method and apparatus for analysis of particles in a liquid sample
US20090311796A1 (en) 2008-06-13 2009-12-17 Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc. Microfluidic analytical device for analysis of chemical or biological samples, method and system thereof
US20090311675A1 (en) * 2005-10-18 2009-12-17 Kazuya Hosokawa Apparatus for Monitoring Thrombus Formation and Method of Mointoring Thrombus Formation
WO2010120786A1 (en) 2009-04-13 2010-10-21 Micronics, Inc. Microfluidic clinical analyzer
US20100291588A1 (en) 2005-06-24 2010-11-18 The Board Of Regents Of The University Of Texas System Systems and methods including self-contained cartridges with detection systems and fluid delivery systems
US20110026009A1 (en) * 2006-09-15 2011-02-03 Haemonetics Corporation Surface Mapping by Optical Manipulation of Particles in Relation to a Functionalized Surface
WO2011122972A2 (en) 2010-03-29 2011-10-06 Biosurfit, S.A. Liquid distribution and metering
US20130130262A1 (en) * 2010-01-29 2013-05-23 C. Frederick Battrell Sample-to-answer microfluidic cartridge
US20130164778A1 (en) * 2011-12-27 2013-06-27 Honeywell International Inc. Two step sample loading of a fluid analysis cartridge
US20130302809A1 (en) * 2012-05-09 2013-11-14 Stat-Diagnostica & Innovation, S.L. Plurality of Reaction Chambers in a Test Cartridge
US20150298118A1 (en) * 2012-09-28 2015-10-22 Agplus Diagnostics Ltd Test Device and Sample Carrier
US20160175836A1 (en) * 2013-07-29 2016-06-23 Atlas Genetics Limitd System and Method for Processing Fluid in a Fluidic Cartridge

Patent Citations (24)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20030224395A1 (en) * 1999-08-02 2003-12-04 Jovanovich Stevan Bogdan Methods and apparatus for performing submicroliter reactions with nucleic acids or proteins
US20020076354A1 (en) 2000-12-01 2002-06-20 Cohen David Samuel Apparatus and methods for separating components of particulate suspension
US20030083685A1 (en) * 2001-06-12 2003-05-01 Freeman Dominique M. Sampling module device and method
WO2003104771A1 (en) 2002-06-01 2003-12-18 Chempaq A/S Lysing reagent, cartridge and automatic electronic cell counter for simultaneous enumeration of different types of white blood cells
US20070178521A1 (en) * 2004-03-16 2007-08-02 Yoshiki Sakaino Assay chip
WO2006042555A2 (en) 2004-10-20 2006-04-27 Chempaq A/S Lysing reagent for simultaneous enumeration of different types of blood cells in a blood sample
WO2006070772A1 (en) 2004-12-28 2006-07-06 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Testing device and blood mixing and diluting method
WO2006084472A1 (en) 2005-02-10 2006-08-17 Chempaq A/S Dual sample cartridge and method for characterizing particle in liquid
US20100291588A1 (en) 2005-06-24 2010-11-18 The Board Of Regents Of The University Of Texas System Systems and methods including self-contained cartridges with detection systems and fluid delivery systems
US20090311675A1 (en) * 2005-10-18 2009-12-17 Kazuya Hosokawa Apparatus for Monitoring Thrombus Formation and Method of Mointoring Thrombus Formation
US20080002178A1 (en) * 2006-06-30 2008-01-03 Ushiodenki Kabushiki Kaisha Microchip testing device
US20110026009A1 (en) * 2006-09-15 2011-02-03 Haemonetics Corporation Surface Mapping by Optical Manipulation of Particles in Relation to a Functionalized Surface
US20080212069A1 (en) * 2007-01-26 2008-09-04 Becton, Dickinson And Company Method, system, and compositions for cell counting and analysis
WO2009037361A1 (en) 2007-09-20 2009-03-26 Iline Microsystems, S.L. Microfluidic device and method for fluid clotting time determination
WO2009069656A1 (ja) 2007-11-26 2009-06-04 Fujimori Kogyo Co., Ltd. マイクロチップおよび血液観測装置
US20090185714A1 (en) 2008-01-18 2009-07-23 Hemocue Ab Method and apparatus for analysis of particles in a liquid sample
US20090311796A1 (en) 2008-06-13 2009-12-17 Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc. Microfluidic analytical device for analysis of chemical or biological samples, method and system thereof
WO2010120786A1 (en) 2009-04-13 2010-10-21 Micronics, Inc. Microfluidic clinical analyzer
US20130130262A1 (en) * 2010-01-29 2013-05-23 C. Frederick Battrell Sample-to-answer microfluidic cartridge
WO2011122972A2 (en) 2010-03-29 2011-10-06 Biosurfit, S.A. Liquid distribution and metering
US20130164778A1 (en) * 2011-12-27 2013-06-27 Honeywell International Inc. Two step sample loading of a fluid analysis cartridge
US20130302809A1 (en) * 2012-05-09 2013-11-14 Stat-Diagnostica & Innovation, S.L. Plurality of Reaction Chambers in a Test Cartridge
US20150298118A1 (en) * 2012-09-28 2015-10-22 Agplus Diagnostics Ltd Test Device and Sample Carrier
US20160175836A1 (en) * 2013-07-29 2016-06-23 Atlas Genetics Limitd System and Method for Processing Fluid in a Fluidic Cartridge

Non-Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
Berkel et al., "Integrated Systems for Rapid Point of Care (PoC) Blood Cell Analysis", © The Royal Society of Chemistry, Feb. 17, 2011, 8 Pgs.
PCT International Search Report for PCT/EP2013/055020, dated Jun. 11, 2013, 4 pgs.
PCT Written Opinion for PCT/EP2013/055020, dated Jun. 11, 2013, 5 Pgs.
Portuguese Search Report for Portuguese Application No. 106203, dated May 9, 2012, 8 Pgs.
Translation of Office Action dated Jan. 31, 2017 for Japanese Application No. 2014561423, 3 pages.

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20180291912A1 (en) * 2012-02-23 2018-10-11 Hahn-Schickard-Gesellschaft Fuer Angewandte Forschung E.V. Fluidics module, device and method for pumping a liquid
US10563656B2 (en) * 2012-02-23 2020-02-18 Hahn-Schickard-Gesellschaft für angewandte Forschung e.V. Fluidics module, device and method for pumping a liquid
US20210387179A1 (en) * 2020-06-16 2021-12-16 Feng Chia University Centrifugal-driven microfluidic platform and method of use thereof
US12458965B2 (en) * 2020-06-16 2025-11-04 Feng Chia University Centrifugal-driven microfluidic platform and method of use thereof

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JP2015510134A (ja) 2015-04-02
WO2013135713A1 (en) 2013-09-19
US20150024426A1 (en) 2015-01-22
JP6335802B2 (ja) 2018-05-30
EP2825881B1 (en) 2018-05-30
EP2825881A1 (en) 2015-01-21

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US9914120B2 (en) Blood cell counting device and method
US20230294089A1 (en) Automated microscopic cell analysis
EP3482189B1 (en) Automated microscopic cell analysis
US8980635B2 (en) Disposable cartridge for fluid analysis
US9199233B2 (en) Biologic fluid analysis cartridge with deflecting top panel
EP1949310B1 (en) Method for performing counts within a biologic fluid sample
US11933701B2 (en) Devices and methods for sample analysis with serial dilution
US20080257754A1 (en) Method and apparatus for entry of specimens into a microfluidic device
US20040019300A1 (en) Microfluidic blood sample separations
US6819408B1 (en) Method for obtaining a monolayer of desired particles in a liquid sample
US20040265172A1 (en) Method and apparatus for entry and storage of specimens into a microfluidic device
US10641698B2 (en) Methods for complete blood count measurement
US11433395B2 (en) Separating apparatus, separating method, separating device, inspection apparatus, and inspection method
Ashiba et al. Microfluidic chips for forward blood typing performed with a multichannel waveguide-mode sensor
US11305236B2 (en) Surface tension driven filtration
US20210170410A1 (en) Devices, systems, and methods for specimen preparation using capillary and centrifugal forces
US20200230600A1 (en) Apparatus and methods for handling liquid
Sahu et al. AI Driven Lab-on-Chip Cartridge for Automated Urinalysis
Hosseinkhannazer et al. Two-species microparticle detection in optofluidic biochips with polymeric waveguides
US10307756B2 (en) Capillary junction
Sahu et al. A novel lab-on-chip cartridge and AI tools for automated urinalysis
US12005441B1 (en) Automated microscopic cell analysis
Ashiba et al. ÔØ Å ÒÙ× Ö ÔØ

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: BIOSURFIT S.A., PORTUGAL

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:DE OLIVEIRA GARCIA DA FONSECA, JOAO MANUEL;CABECA, RICARDO;REEL/FRAME:034420/0757

Effective date: 20140922

AS Assignment

Owner name: THE EUROPEAN INVESTMENT BANK, LUXEMBOURG

Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:BIOSURFIT S.A.;REEL/FRAME:037722/0215

Effective date: 20160211

STCF Information on status: patent grant

Free format text: PATENTED CASE

FEPP Fee payment procedure

Free format text: MAINTENANCE FEE REMINDER MAILED (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: REM.); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: SMALL ENTITY

LAPS Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees

Free format text: PATENT EXPIRED FOR FAILURE TO PAY MAINTENANCE FEES (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: EXP.); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: SMALL ENTITY

STCH Information on status: patent discontinuation

Free format text: PATENT EXPIRED DUE TO NONPAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEES UNDER 37 CFR 1.362

FP Lapsed due to failure to pay maintenance fee

Effective date: 20220313